Is Christianity a Life or Is it a Doctrine?

If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. (1 Timothy 4:6 ESV)

From January 1986 until the late fall of 2005 I probably would have, if asked, responded to the question in the title that Christianity is a life or at least a relationship while doctrine, though unnecessary, helps us understand that. I didn’t really believe during that time that doctrine was of any real value. Why? My whole understanding of Christianity is that it is based on my experience. For some odd reason I didn’t think much past that in an attempt to understand why my experience would be so radically different than other Christians’ experience.

Let us reason together here. Lay aside, for now, your preconceived notions that Christianity is based entirely in our experiences and feelings. I know that most professing believers hold this because of the way we disciple new believers. How often have you seen Christians unintentionally put down their weaker brethren by relating their “experiences” in our faith and implying that they are what all believers should be experiencing or they are not mature or maybe not really saved?

I don’t post many of the comments I receive on Possessing the Treasure because of the hateful attitudes expressed therein or the fact that the one commenting violated one or more of the rules we have here for comments. In any case, occasionally someone will leave a comment in which they say something like this as they critique what we teach and hold here. “We don’t need any creeds or confessions! We just need to know Jesus! You are a Pharisee who is in bondage to your legalism!” I find it interesting that no scripture is ever used in these things, only the repeating of phrases from their favorite preacher or author. The reason I brought this up here is that I wanted you to get the perspective of the two views. I confess that, even if I never expressed it to anyone, I held the very same views prior to late 2005.

But, it will be said, Christianity is a life, not a doctrine. The assertion is often made, and it has an appearance of godliness. But it is radically false, and to detect its falsity one does not need to be a Christian. For to say that “Christianity is a life” is to make an assertion in the sphere of history. The assertion does not lie in the sphere of ideals; it is far different from saying that Christianity ought to be a life, or that the ideal religion is a life. The assertion that Christianity is a life is subject to historical investigation exactly as is the assertion that the Roman Empire under Nero was a free democracy. Possibly the Roman Empire under Nero would have been better if it had been a free democracy, but the historical question is simply whether as a matter of fact it was a free democracy or no. Christianity is an historical phenomenon, like the Roman Empire, or the Kingdom of Prussia, or the United States of America. And as an historical phenomenon it must be investigated on the basis of historical evidence.

Is it true, then, that Christianity is not a doctrine but a life? The question can be settled only by an examination of the beginnings of Christianity. Recognition of that fact does not involve any acceptance of Christian belief; it is merely a matter of common sense and common honesty. At the foundation of the life of every corporation is the incorporation paper, in which the objects of the corporation are set forth. Other objects may be vastly more desirable than those objects, but if the directors use the name and the resources of the corporation to pursue the other objects they are acting “ultra vires” of the corporation. So it is with Christianity. It is perfectly conceivable that the originators of the Christian movement had no right to legislate for subsequent generations; but at any rate they did have an inalienable right to legislate for all generations that should choose to bear the name of “Christian.” It is conceivable that Christianity may now have to be abandoned, and another religion substituted for it; but at any rate the question what Christianity is can be determined only by an examination of the beginnings of Christianity.

The beginnings of Christianity constitute a fairly definite historical phenomenon. The Christian movement originated a few days after the death of Jesus of Nazareth. It is doubtful whether anything that preceded the death of Jesus can be called Christianity. At any rate, if Christianity existed before that event, it was Christianity only in a preliminary stage. The name originated after the death of Jesus, and the thing itself was also something new. Evidently there was an important new beginning among the disciples of Jesus in Jerusalem after the crucifixion. At that time is to be placed the beginning of the remarkable movement which spread out from Jerusalem into the Gentile world–the movement which is called Christianity.

About the early stages of this movement definite historical information has been preserved in the Epistles of Paul, which are regarded by all serious historians as genuine products of the first Christian generation. The writer of the Epistles had been in direct communication with those intimate friends of Jesus who had begun the Christian movement in Jerusalem, and in the Epistles he makes it abundantly plain what the fundamental character of the movement was.

But if any one fact is clear, on the basis of this evidence, it is that the Christian movement at its inception was not just a way of life in the modem sense, but a way of life founded upon a message. It is perfectly clear that the first Christian missionaries did not simply come forward with exhortation; they did not say: “Jesus of Nazareth lived a wonderful life of filial piety, and we call upon you our hearers to yield yourselves as we have done to the spell of that life.” Certainly that is what modem historians would have expected the first Christian missionaries to say, but it must be recognized at least that as a matter of fact they said nothing of the kind. They came forward, not merely with an exhortation or with a program, but with a message,–with an account of something that had happened a short time before. “Christ died for our sins,” they said, “according to the Scriptures; he was buffed; he has been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” – J. Gresham Machen

Ever since late in 2005 I have been looking for a way to express the very thing Dr. Machen said in these few paragraphs. Real Christianity is a life that is lived according to the doctrine of which our faith consists. This doctrine, or as some like to say, this “systematic theology,” is based on what happened when Jesus came, lived, died, resurrected, and ascended all based on why He came and lived the way He did and died the way He did and rose from the dead the way He did, and ascended into Heaven the way He did. This is our doctrine and as Dr. Machen said, this is what the early Christian’s preached. They did not preach to people the “good news” that Jesus came to make their lives better. No, they preached that Jesus came and died in their place so that God’s wrath against their sin was placed on Him instead. They preached that while the Holy Spirit worked in the hearers’ hearts to draw them to the truth. They were regenerated and they believed and repented and received Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Was their faith a life full of experience or is it eternal life founded on the Gospel? You may be saying, “What’s the difference?” Well, the difference is that the former leads people to believe that they are genuine Christians because of their experiences and feelings while the latter confirms to believers that they are Christians because of what their doctrine tells them about all who believe.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)

Is Christianity a life or is it a doctrine? Yes, I know that as we mature as Christians, learning to pray and serve and study the Word that we will have “experiences” and “feelings.” I know this because I experience these things too. However, is my Christianity based in these things or is it based in what God’s Word tells me is true? Our foundation for living in and by God’s grace is to obey His Word and we can’t do that unless we know His word. Those claiming that we do not need any creeds or confessions or doctrine or theology are those who say Christianity is a life and our feelings are what determines our authenticity.

I have never met a mature believer who has not at some time or other suffered a period of time when God seemed millions of miles away and their hearts were as dry towards God as could be. Does this mean they aren’t Christians because they are going through this? Nonsense! No, and I have never seen one of these mature believers who did not once again attain their joy after spending some time in prayer and worship and meditation on God’s Word. When they come back they will tell you that the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word was the means of their comfort because of the promises therein which God opened up to their heart.

Christianity is a life that is lived in light of the doctrine of Christianity. Those who deny the necessity of theology or doctrine are also saying we have no need of Christology. That is the doctrine which describes Christ. That is utter nonsense my brethren. Christianity based on feelings has no foundation. This form of Christianity has its roots in relativism, which means it is a form of Liberalism or Modernism or Post-Modernism.

The more we come to understand these truths the more we also are able to “see” that God is Sovereign and He is not haphazard in His ways. No one is a Christian outside of His Sovereign Grace. No one is a Christian on their own terms. All in Christ came to be there by God’s grace through faith, not of themselves, it is a gift from God, that no one may boast. How do we know this? Isn’t this found in Ephesians 2:8-9 and isn’t it found in our doctrine of salvation? We must not allow relativism to poison our minds here, but, instead, let us seek the Lord and His truth, live by it according to His grace as the Holy Spirit fills our spiritual sails, moving us to walk where and how God desires.

The problem with downplaying core doctrines is what do you preach and what do disciples follow and obey? Jesus said go into all the world and teach.

With our doctrine as our base, we must never let our Christianity become a continuing battle over the tenants of our faith. We should be living and following Jesus by faith with a vibrance that undergirds the dcotrine/truth that Christ lives in us!!

It soooo important that we experience those dry seasons. Those “valleys” give us insight into how our flesh can deceive us. Long-suffering is one of those other four letter words the popular teachers don’t want to talk about for fear of losing your attendance.

You are so right Josh. These ‘valleys’ are used by God to grow us and to pare away that in us that is not of Him. This is why we must be merciful to the hurting and suffering believers all around us. That is also why “Christians” who blast the suffering Christian as if the pain disproves ones authenticity actually reveal who their real father is.

It is heartbreaking to visit websites like, “pathoftruth.com.” Their response to suffering is just like that of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. For their ignorance in regard to human suffering, the Lord burned with anger against them.

“After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. ” Job 42:7

Indeed, Christianity has a foundation of truth (doctrine), and must be lived based on those truths. The redeemed are the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15)

Great post and something that I’ve held to for a little while now. I too held personal experience higher than the truth of the scriptures, even though I was told that scripture is the basis of everything.

Now that I’m studying scripture deeply, I realize just how important it is to do what God said, the way that He meant it to be done.

A commenter above said that we are to “go into all the world”. That’s exactly right, but there is more to it. We are to teach others to observe all that Jesus commanded us….

Mike, this is really a great post, and your own insights are deeper than many others that I have read on this issue. Too many times, people like to waffle, but your statement “Real Christianity is a life that is lived according to the doctrine of which our faith consists” is a powerful truth that is expressed in a few simple words.

Therefore, I urge you brothers through the compassions of God to present your bodies as living, holy sacrifices, well pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service. And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may discern the will of God, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. (Colossians 1:24-26 ESV)

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The way of escape

"To believe that He will preserve us is, indeed, a means of preservation. God will certainly preserve us, and make a way of escape for us out of the temptation, should we fall. We are to pray for what God has already promised. Our requests are to be regulated by His promises and commands. Faith embraces the promises and so finds relief." - John Owen

How to be free from bondage to our flesh and temptation

"If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: 'God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled.' When this is true in our lives, a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage." - John Owen

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About me

My name is Mike Ratliff. I am a δοῦλος (slave) of the Κύριον ᾿Ιησοῦν Χριστόν (Lord Jesus Christ.) I have been a Bible teacher since the late 1980's. I am currently learning Koine Greek, which I began in 1992 and will continue to do so until the Lord takes me home. I am Reformed in my theology because I recognize that God is Sovereign over all things. I write these posts as God directs. I am also part of the discernment team at Christian Research Network.

OTHERS MAY, YOU CANNOT

by G. D. Watson

If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25

If God has called you to be truly like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. He will put on you such demands of obedience that you will not be allowed to follow other Christians. In many ways, He seems to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

Others who seem to be very religious and useful may push themselves, pull wires, and scheme to carry out their plans, but you cannot. If you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others can brag about themselves, their work, their successes, their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing. If you begin to do so, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others will be allowed to succeed in making great sums of money, or having a legacy left to them, or in having luxuries, but God may supply you only on a day-to-day basis, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, a helpless dependence on Him and His unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward while keeping you hidden in obscurity because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade.

God may let others be great, but keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him and get the credit, but He will make you work and toil without knowing how much you are doing. Then, to make your work still more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work which you have done; this to teach you the message of the Cross, humility, and something of the value of being cloaked with His nature.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on you, and with a jealous love rebuke you for careless words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over.

So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own, and that He may not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you.

God will take you at your word. If you absolutely sell yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and let other people say and do many things that you cannot. Settle it forever; you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit, He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue or chaining your hand or closing your eyes in ways which others are not dealt with. However, know this great secret of the Kingdom: When you are so completely possessed with the Living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven, the high calling of God.